Qatar's Al-Jazeera television will not broadcast in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet unanimously voted on Sunday to end its activities, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Israeli government. Earlier, the country's parliament passed a law authorizing the government to temporarily close foreign television stations in the country.
The Israeli government's statement did not specify when this decision might come into force, Reuters reported.
The agency recalled that the vote of Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet took place after the adoption by the Israeli parliament of a law allowing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters in Israel considered a threat to national security during the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The law, unofficially called the “Al-Jazeera Law”, was adopted by 70 votes to 10 against.
Al-Jazeera television headquarters in the capital of Qatar, Doha Philip Lange / Shutterstock.com
“The government headed by me has unanimously decided: the inciting channel Al-Jariza will be closed in Israel,” the Prime Minister said in a Sunday entry on the X platform.
Al-Jazeera reported, informing about the Israeli government's decision, that it would enter into force “immediately.” The station refers to the entry of the Minister of Communications. Shlomo Karhi wrote on the X platform that he “signed regulations regarding the Qatari station that will take effect immediately.”
In the hands of the courts
According to the law adopted by the Israeli parliament, any order to remove a foreign television station from the air must be brought to court within 24 hours. Judges will decide how long the order should last. The Act states that the order is valid for 45 days, unless the court decides otherwise.
Previously quoted by Reuters, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, referring to reports on the new regulations, said that “if it is true that Israel wants to close Al-Jazeera, it is disturbing.”
Israel has repeatedly accused Al-Jazeera journalists of manipulating information to benefit Hamas.
Main photo source: Philip Lange / Shutterstock.com